Before a recent international gathering of supporters in Caracas, President Chavez admonished genetically engineered crops as contrary to interests and needs of the nation’s farmers and farmworkers.
...President Chavez emphasized the importance of food sovereignty and security—required by the Venezuelan Constitution—as the basis of his decision. Instead of allowing Monsanto to grow its transgenic crops, these fields will be used to plant yuca, an indigenous crop, Chavez explained. He also announced the creation of a large seed bank facility to maintain indigenous seeds for peasants’ movements around the world.
...President Chavez emphasized the importance of food sovereignty and security—required by the Venezuelan Constitution—as the basis of his decision. Instead of allowing Monsanto to grow its transgenic crops, these fields will be used to plant yuca, an indigenous crop, Chavez explained. He also announced the creation of a large seed bank facility to maintain indigenous seeds for peasants’ movements around the world.
Why, that Communist punk!
“The agreement was against the principles of food sovereignty that guide the agricultural policy of Venezuela,” said Alegria when informed of the President’s decision. “This is a very important thing for the peasants and indigenous people of Latin America and the world.”
Alegria has good reason to be concerned. With a long history of social and environmental problems, Monsanto won early international fame with its production of the chemical Agent Orange—the Vietnam War defoliant linked to miscarriage, tremors, and memory loss, to which over a million people were exposed. More recently, the company has been criticized for side-effects that its transgenic crops and bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are believed to have on human health and the environment.
Closer to home in Venezuela, Monsanto manufactures the pesticide “glyphosate,” which is used by the neighboring Colombian government as part of its Plan Colombia offensive against coca production and rebel groups. The Colombian government aerially sprays hundreds of thousands of acres, destroying legitimate farms and natural areas like the Putomayo rainforest, and posing a direct threat to human health, including that of indigenous communities.
“If we want to achieve food sovereignty, we cannot rely on transnationals like Monsanto,” said Maximilien Arvelaiz, an advisor to President Chavez. “We need to strengthen local production..."
Alegria has good reason to be concerned. With a long history of social and environmental problems, Monsanto won early international fame with its production of the chemical Agent Orange—the Vietnam War defoliant linked to miscarriage, tremors, and memory loss, to which over a million people were exposed. More recently, the company has been criticized for side-effects that its transgenic crops and bovine growth hormone (rBGH) are believed to have on human health and the environment.
Closer to home in Venezuela, Monsanto manufactures the pesticide “glyphosate,” which is used by the neighboring Colombian government as part of its Plan Colombia offensive against coca production and rebel groups. The Colombian government aerially sprays hundreds of thousands of acres, destroying legitimate farms and natural areas like the Putomayo rainforest, and posing a direct threat to human health, including that of indigenous communities.
“If we want to achieve food sovereignty, we cannot rely on transnationals like Monsanto,” said Maximilien Arvelaiz, an advisor to President Chavez. “We need to strengthen local production..."
One of these days, American farmers may get a(nother) rude awakening. Slowly but surely they are being squeezed out of the ability to grow crops, save seed, and replant. Giant seed corporations are looking to control seed production globally. If you, like the Oaf of Office, think privatization of water and food supplies and deregulation of air pollution are good ideas, you are going to love the future.
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
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